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Canada's top surprising destinations

Have you been to Osoyoos, B.C. Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa has some nice views.

Photograph by: Handout photo
, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa

It's time to expand your horizons. Yes, we all love Montreal and Vancouver, but there are destinations all across our country that have what it takes to coax you into their folds. From east to west, here are the 10 most under-rated, deserve-to-be-loved destinations that should be on your vacation radar.

1. Dildo, N.L.

Why go? Dildo is a fishing town on the eastern shore of Trinity Bay with a freaky name, but there's more to it than that. It's cute as a button and picturesque to boot. It overlooks the sea and oozes the kind of charm that's quintessential Newfoundland. The Winterton Boat Building Museum explores its nautical heritage dating back to the 1700s. Nature lovers can hike the trails that wind through the hills, watch for icebergs and whales in the harbour, or visit a pony sanctuary in nearby Hopeall.

Why you haven't: With a name like Dildo, it's hard to think about what's actually there.

Tips: Go luxe and book a room (from $129 a night) at the five-star George House Heritage B&B for the great view. The free nibbles and drinks between 4 and 6 p.m. are just a bonus. Buy Dildo souvenirs at the Dildo Trading Post (because you won't be able to resist wearing a Dildo emblazoned sweatshirt around your friends). Amp up your trip's romance factor with visits to nearby spots like Heart's Content, Heart's Delight and Heart's Desire.

Prime time: Early summer is when you'll catch sight of icebergs, but well into the fall there's plenty to see and do, surrounded by postcard-like vistas.

Why go? Skip the whale-watching tours and aquariums. From the shore here "up west," you may spot whales, porpoises and seals at low tide. This is where Gulf of St. Lawrence and the waters of the Northumberland Strait meet. The breezes are gusty -- perfect for cooling off after hiking the Black Marsh Nature Trail -- so it's not surprising to see towering turbines on the red cliffs catching the wind as energy. An interpretive centre explains how it all works.

Why you haven't: You've been so dazzled by the biking routes and beaches elsewhere on the island that you've found it hard to pull yourself away. North Cape is more rugged, rockier and windier, but it's just as dazzling.

Tips: On the drive up, make a pit stop at the P.E.I. Potato Museum to see the oddity that is a giant sculptured potato. Also stop to slurp some Acadian fish chowder at one of the Acadian communities.

Prime time: Choose summer for the weather or fall for the food (lobster season and the Fall Flavours culinary festival, which goes from Sept. 3 to 30).

Why go? Alexander Graham Bell picked Baddeck as his final resting spot. He's buried on a hill that overlooks the maze of lakes and islands that is Bras d'Or. A museum celebrates the genius that gave us the telephone, plus his technological advances in aeronautics, medicine and engineering. Viewing stately homes, sailing around the harbour and cracking open a lobster at a community supper should rank high on your to-do list.

Why you haven't: When in Cape Breton, the Cabot Trail deservedly mesmerizes visitors with its beauty -- and then they leave. Lingering longer and exploring the island reveals its other gems.

Tips: Being by the water, in it, or on it, shows you why Baddeck attracts visitors. Explore it up close with a kayak trip with North River Kayak Tours. Even awkward first-time kayakers feel serene, thanks to patient, knowledgeable guides.

Prime time: In summer, lupins wave in the breeze and the lake comes alive with boaters and swimmers, but you can also get a dose of the culture by taking in the events of the Celtic Colours International Festival from Oct. 8 to 16.

Why go? As New Brunswick's provincial capital, it's the perfect hub for your explorations. Canadian history sheds its boring image at Kings Landing Historical Settlement where characters in costume take visitors back to the 1800s. Catch dinner in the nearby Miramichi River, famous for its fly-fishing and hefty salmon. This doesn't mean there isn't much to do in the city. You'll have a bounty of seafood offered by local restaurants and cool shops (especially those specializing in hand-crafted goods) will coax away your cash.

Why you haven't: When visiting the Maritimes, the towns on the ocean and the Bay of Fundy, such as St. Andrews, are the big draws. Inland destinations such as Fredericton get overlooked in the fog.

Tips: Fredericton wants you to leave a smarter person, so sign up for an edVentures program (on until Aug. 20). You can learn how to hook a rug, make a mug, craft a chair, or paint a bear.

Prime time: Summer is the most popular, of course, but fall and spring have much to offer, from maple syrup festivals to road trips to see autumn colours.

Why go? Eat, drink and be merry with a French flair. Those are three good reasons to visit this chain of islands in the St. Lawrence River where the sea meets the ocean. Lobster is the star here and they are big ones, the size of puppies. The honey-hued beaches wind around 300 kilometres of coastline and never get crowded. Bike, walk, hike or drive from island to island. Sample the island's numerous culinary treats (crab, scallops, mussels, artisanal cheeses, chocolate, and berry wine) as you go. Go snap happy and photograph the little fishing cottages in jelly-bean colours.

Why you haven't: You can't drive, so getting here is more expensive. Hop on a plane (Air Canada Jazz goes to the islands) or take the daily ferry from Souris on Prince Edward Island.

Tips: The cliffs may look tempting to scurry over, but don't. Erosion has made them susceptible to collapse. Forgo camping and stay in one of the chic B&Bs where there's no chance your accommodations will be blown away by the wind.

Prime time: The islands are open for business year round. In winter, the hardy eco-set arrives to welcome a fresh batch of baby harp seals.

Why go? Back in the late 1800s, someone put this town into a time capsule and kept it there. It is wonderfully preserved, with original façades and grand Victorian homes. Its quaint charm has earned it a steady gig as a setting for movies and TV shows. Antique hunters drool over early Canadian furniture and Victorian-era doodads available at the many shops and markets.

Why you haven't: It's just off the 401 on the north shore of Lake Ontario, but you likely whiz by the exit every time.

Tips: Steer clear of the big-name hotels and bed down for the night at one of the historic B&Bs downtown after taking in a performance at the grand Capitol Theatre.

Prime time: In the summer, the crowds come to shop and roam the streets, but fall is also a good choice because of the All Canadian Jazz Festival (Sept. 24 to 26) and the old-fashioned fall fair (Sept. 17 to 19), now in its 179th year.

Why go? It sounds familiar, but you've never been unless you're from the 'Peg and have spent your lifetime hanging out there in the summer. This beach town on the shore of Lake Winnipeg is a natural beauty. It also boasts a sizeable Icelandic community, which comes out strong every summer for Islendingadagurinn (which could translate to "big festival with partying Vikings and other commoners who like pancake breakfasts").

Why you haven't: Your bathing suit is a bit snug and you're a bit shy about hanging out with the beach crowd. Or you just haven't thought of Manitoba as a prime sun-and-sand spot.

Tips: Stop by Kris' Fish & Chips to fill up on pickerel, batter and fried, with a side of fries. On second thought, that won't help loosen up that bathing suit, will it?

Prime time: Summer is it, unless you're into ice fishing. Go during the Gimli Film Festival every July so you can watch a flick while you lounge on the beach.

Why go? It's way cooler than you think. It has a healthy arts scene and hip galleries sprinkled over the downtown core. Those underground tunnels (alleged Al Capone-rum running ties aside) have an interesting tale to tell about racism, ingenuity and the cost of progress. Then there's the spa scene. The town was founded over top of natural thermal springs and Temple Gardens Mineral Spa makes the most of it. Another surprise: Sahara Spa features a Balinese theme and it's housed in a former railroad station.

Why you haven't: It suffers from the same condition as Dildo. The buck too often stops at its odd name.

Tips: Make your stomach happy with a good feed of Thai cuisine at Nit's, a shabby-chic diner that still serves meals on pink Melmac dishes. Stroll the streets to spot one of 36 murals that depict that town's early history.

Prime time: The fall has some of the most gorgeous sunsets, but come any time -- even in the winter. At Temple Gardens, you can sit in the outdoor hot tub while the snow falls and still feel toasty.

Why go? Edmonton pegs itself as "Canada's festival city" and there's plenty to back it up. It seems there's always something going on, especially in arts and culture circles. The best-known events are theatre-centric, with the International Fringe Festival and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. The Art Gallery of Alberta is looking its best in a sexy new contemporary building, opened in February. Catch the exhibit The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons until Oct. 11.

Why you haven't: Blame its flirty sister city, Calgary, for stealing some of its thunder and an unfair focus on the behemoth, West Edmonton Mall.

Tips: Go old or go new in hotels. The Fairmont McDonald is a lovely, refined old dame and the new Matrix boutique hotel is a chic newcomer.

Prime time: The city is one of Canada's sunniest, so bask in the sunshine any time, but only the truly hardy will come Nov. 28 to watch the Grey Cup.

Why go? Welcome to the desert. Osoyoos is a booming community that is just a putt away from the U.S. border in the central part of B.C. It's at the northernmost point of the Great Basin Desert, so the weather -- dry summers and blizzard-free winters -- are a big draw. Mountains and golf, hiking and biking, plus tastings at Nk'Mip, North America's first aboriginal owned-and-operated winery, keep visitors amused. If Arizona and B.C. got married, this town would be their love child.

Why you haven't: It's not a place you'd stumble upon by accident. You'll find it because you want to. Also, it has a name most people can't pronounce. For the record, it's "Oh-sue-yoos."

Tips: Check out the new Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, a 4.5-star property that focuses on pampering, from gourmet dining to a massage at the Sonora Spa.

Prime time: Pack up and go any time. Osoyoos enjoys the perks of being a desert -- golf year round and minimal precipitation, just 30 centimetres inches annually.

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